Seven Lively Wins

Enough of the gloom and doom from yesterday’s post.  So what are some things we can actually do aside from moving out in the middle of nowhere to grow and raise our own food while wearing dresses made from feed bags.  We are all at different stages of change in our lifestyle.  (Assuming none of us are perfect and all of us want to continue to grow and contribute.) Some of you do everything on this list AND MORE.  Some of us are somewhere in the middle.  C’est moi.  Others of you have no idea where to start.  Don’t be overwhelmed. Start small by replacing a few processed foods with fresh fruit or vegetables every week.  It can be as simple as that to get the ball rolling.  Sort of like when you are beginning a new exercise program.  If you charge out of the gate full speed you’ll increase your chance of burning out.  Start small.  Make gradual changes until you reach a lifestyle that you feel is livable and in line with your goals and convictions.  Where ever you are don’t feel guilty for not doing enough.  As women, most of us probably give ourselves enough of that already.

Seven Lively Wins – Things you can do to make a difference in the food industry.

1. Limit, and/or choose healthier processed foods and drinks. – We all know procressed foods are bad for our bodies but they are also heavily dependent of corn one of the most subsidized crops in our country and one of the the least nutritious and most genetically modified.  Look at the ingredients.  The shorter and easier to pronounce the list the better.

2. Buy from your local farmers market or co-ops or join a csa (community substained agriculture). – You’ll be getting fresher, better tasting, and more nutritious food.  I know I also save money when I shop farmer’s markets as opposed the the large chain stores.  It supports your local farmer which is cool.  To see if you have anything in your area visit Local Harvest.

3.  Fill over half your cart fruits and vegetables, organic if possible. – It’s better for you and your family and you’re voting with your dollar by saying I want the shelves to be stocked with FOOD not crap.  If you can afford organic great.  I can’t afford to buy all organic for my family so I do a combination.  My general rule, if the skin is thin, I buy organic.

4.  Avoid fast food as much as possible. – In theory, I am anti-fast food but in reality I occasionally eat it.  I’ve been honest about my love for Long John Silvers, right?  😉  If you must go out for fast food regularly then choose healthier options.  Remember it wasn’t so long ago that fries were the only option in Happy Meals now you can choose apples.

5. Eat “vegetarian” a night or two a week. –  I’m not a vegetarian but I see the value in cutting down on meat consumption in regards to the meat industry  especially since I can‘t afford exclusively organic meat.  It will probably cut down on your grocery bill too.

6. Eat more wild fish. –  In particular varieties that are not over fished and if possible local. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a cool little guide divided by regions.  Farm raised fish are raised in cages crammed full of other fish and often given an artificial feed and antibiotics to ward of parasites.  If you have a Trader Joe’s in your area, they carry a good selection of good tasting frozen wild fish at reasonable prices.

7. Reduce soy products. – Like corn, soybeans are heavily subsidized. While they are more nutritious than corn most have been genetically modified.  Admittedly, avoiding soy is tricky especially for some vegetarians who rely on soy products for their protein.  Personally, I don’t take a stance on the soy debate.  I’ve heard it’s good for you and I’ve heard it’s terrible for you.  I just don’t know.  What I do know, is I like my food to be as close to natural so unless it’s a soy bean, i.e., edamame, it’s processed to some extent.

Like I said I’m somewhere on the middle of the list.  I do belong to a csa but I don’t buy much organic meat unless it’s ground beef.  I limit but not exclude processed foods on my grocery list.  I only go out to Long John Silver’s a few times a year.    Sometimes I eat tofu.   I’m not saying do what I do. I’m simply saying find a balance that works for you and hopefully someday broccoli will be less expensive then the crappy processed cheeseburgers on the value menu.  If anyone has other tips or suggestions they’d like to share I’d love to hear them!

After writing my list, I went back over to Food Inc.’s website and saw they have their own list.  Maybe you will find it simpler or more helpful than mine.

xoxo
jenn

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About jennincat

I'm so happy you stopped by my little corner of the web where I write about fitness, food, and amazing women I "meet". I live in California with my wonderful husband and two rambunctious boys. I'm a personal trainer and dreamer. I enjoy most things but some of my favorites are reading, acting, camping, cooking, music, writing, traveling, and being in the moment with my favorite people! You can read more about me here! I hope you stop by often!

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